Simulation provides experience for nursing, Spanish language students

February 22, 2022 (Volume 45, Number 12)

in a hospital-like room with patient bed, a nursing student uses a stethoscope to listen to a standardized patient in a hospital gown, while a student seated in a chair uses hand gestures while listening and interpreting

Miriam Johnston, a standardized patient trained to speak only in Spanish, communicates with Alyssa Bartle, at right, during a simulation in the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences. Johnston has makeup on her chest created to look like cigarette burns.

At right, Alyssa Bartle provides interpretation during a simulation lab with nursing student Samantha Laurich, standing, and Miriam Johnston, a standardized patient trained to speak only in Spanish.

Photo Credit: Kendra Stanley-Mills

A unique interdisciplinary collaboration provided nursing and Spanish language students experiences in a clinical setting.

Students in Bret Linford's Spanish for Health Professionals class and an upper-level nursing class teamed to conduct simulations February 2 with a standardized patient trained to speak only Spanish.

Cheyene Emmons, a student from the Spanish class, said the exercise in the Simulation Center, located in the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences, helped her better understand the need for health care interpreters.

“It’s really hard for people who aren’t able to speak English to sometimes get the medical care that they need,” Emmons said. “Not everyone sees the need to have interpreters for patients, which I think is an important thing for students to learn about.”

Christina Quick, assistant professor of nursing and co-coordinator of the Simulation Center, said the center offers an opportunity for students in many disciplines to practice safely. "In the clinical setting, there are a lot of things you can’t do as a student, either out of fear of messing up or in sensitive scenarios," Quick said. "We know learning happens effectively through experience, and we want to give students the opportunity to take the reins and start to practice."

Simulation labs encompass many scenarios, including both hospital and outpatient care. In this simulation, nursing students were expected to navigate electronic health records and conduct patient histories, and Spanish students interpreted all communication for the patient.

Lindford, associate professor of Spanish, said these real-world experiences are important as students begin to consider language careers.

“These experiences help students feel like they can do this, and it’s going to increase the motivation and excitement for what they can do with the language," he said.

After the simulation, students debriefed with faculty members. The simulations often relate to the current course discussions and material, so students can use the knowledge from their classes and apply it to the lab.

Sharon Baker, standardized patient coordinator, said it was nice to see when something clicked with students. "You can see the excitement in their eyes," she said.